International airport dedicated in Naypyitaw

(Mizzima) – The Naypyitaw International Airport was inaugurated on Monday, the Xinhua news agency reported.

A miniature model of the expanded international airport in Naypyitaw, which is designed to promote more tourism in the capital. Photo: Mizzima

The new international airport was put into operation in a bid to ensure accommodation of what is hoped to be a sharp increase of tourists from around the world in the years ahead, said Xinhua.

Located 16 kilometers south of Naypyitaw and next to the old Ayelar Airport, the opening was attended by Vice President Sai Mauk Kham and visiting Chinese State Councilor Dai Bingguo, who is in Naypyitaw to attend the 4th Summit of the six-country Greater Mekong Subregion-Economic Cooperation (GMS) which opens Tuesday.

The new airport was partly designed to accommodate events such as the Southeast Asian Games and Asean summit to be hosted in Naypyitaw in 2013 and 2014 respectively.

The project involved a credit of nearly US$ 200 million financial aid extended by the China Export-Import Bank and a supply of construction equipment from the China Machinery Engineering Corporation and China Harbour Engineering Company, according to Xinhua.

Burma has two other international airports, in Rangoon and Mandalay.

The redesigned terminal building at the Naypyitaw International Airport, which was officially inaugurated on Monday.

The redesigned terminal building at the Naypyitaw International Airport, which was officially inaugurated on Monday. Photo: 7-Day news journal

The airport was designed by CPG Consultants Pte. Ltd. of Singapore, which previously designed the annex to the Rangoon International Airport as well as Singapore's Changi Airport and several airports in Vietnam and Laos. The airport has two expanded runways and three terminals with modern facilities.

Built by the Burmese construction company Asia World, the airport will be able to handle 10.5 million passengers a year, according to the CPG website.

The new government announced recently that many construction projects in the new capital had been suspended because of a lack of funds, but the airport construction was a priority and proceeded on schedule.

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